media-releases

BOOSTING COMMUNITY SAFETY IN BRUNSWICK

October 18, 2018

The Andrews Labor Government has announced funding for the Public Open Space LED lighting upgrade project, improving perceptions of safety and community confidence in Brunswick

Member for Northern Metropolitan Region, Jenny Mikakos, announced Moreland City Council has been awarded a $238,000 grant as part of the latest round of the Public Safety Infrastructure Fund (PSIF) to replace ageing lighting infrastructure within parklands across Moreland to improve visibility.

The City of Moreland has a number of parks and reserves frequented by the community day and night which currently have outdated and inefficient lighting which is impacting safety.

Jacobs Reserve, Allard Park, Barkly Street Park, Brunswick Park and Methven Park have been specifically identified by council as areas with inadequate lighting and continual maintenance issues, and are not being lit to the recommended Australian Standards or Distributor Codes.

The PSIF grants provides funds to Victorian councils for the development of public safety and security infrastructure to improve community safety, security and confidence in public places.

Thirteen projects in Moreland have received a total of $330,195 in funding under the Community Crime Prevention Project since 2015-16.

Previously funded projects include:

the De Chene Reserve car park lighting project, funded $192,000 under PSIF in 2015-16, which installed new lighting to the car park adjacent the De Chene Reserve pavilion in Coburg and the public access walkway from Bell Street. The project was finalised in May 2017.

ten Community Safety Fund projects to install safety and security equipment infrastructure at community facilities.

two Graffiti Prevention Grants projects funded in 2017 and 2018 installing murals in graffiti-prone laneways in Brunswick and Fawkner.

Over the coming weeks millions of dollars’ worth of new PSIF projects will be announced as part of this year’s program.

Since July 2015, the Labor Government has provided more than $12.5 million in these grants to help support 78 infrastructure projects across Victoria.

The grants program supports infrastructure projects that improve community safety, security and confidence in public places as a part of the Labor Government’s $25 million investment in its Community Crime Prevention Program, this builds on the $19.4 million invested in the program in 2016–17.

This is in stark contrast to the Liberals, who when in government, failed to continue funding for crime prevention programs, leaving them in danger of lapsing.

Labor saved these grants when coming into office and have a proven track record of investing in crime prevention projects that are backed by evidence and supported by the community and Victoria Police.

Quotes attributable to Member for Northern Metropolitan Region, Jenny Mikakos

“These public safety infrastructure grants help to increase community safety, security and confidence in public places and also encourage communities to actively contribute to community safety solutions in their local areas.”

“These projects will help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour by improving the design of the local environment, providing safer and more accessible areas for the people of Brunswick to enjoy.”